Container



Oct. 16, 1934.

J. M. BOSCARDIN CONTAINER Filed Sept. 23, 1932 INVENTOR. JOHN M. BOSCARDIN. /0 BY ATTORNEY- Patented Oct. 16, 1934 VIUNETED STATES PA-renam s,

CONTAINER 1' John M. Boscardin, Canaan, Conn.

Application September 23, 1932, Serial No. 634,464

12 Claims. 1 (01. 294-71) -'Ihis invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers and has particular relation to containers such as are used to hold cement and the like during transportation.

In'use, these containers are filled and then loaded onto cars. When the cars reach their destination the containers are lifted by cranes or the like and swung into position over hoppers into which the contents of the containers is emptied. In some instances the containers are emptied by be ng turned bottomside up while in others the bottoms are of the dump type, being hingedly mounted.

Heretofore, in the latter type of containers the structures have beenvsuch that when the bottoms are released some of the contents spreads or moves laterally as well as downwardly with the result that a portion of the contents does not enter the hopper but is spilled over its sides and lost.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a container of the dump bottom type and which is so constructed that, on the bottom being released, the contents of the container will be discharged and move downwardly from the container and will not move laterally with the resultfthat the entire contents of the container will be discharged into a receiving hopper or the like.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a container for the purpose specified and which container is of generally improved construction.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to'the details disclosed but includes all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit of the invention'and' the scope of the appended claims,

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view showing a container constructed in accordance with the present invention; j r

"Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the same;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing some of the inner construction;

';Fig. dis a'transverse sectional view taken substantially along'the line 4i'of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is atop planview of the container; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View on an enlarged scale'ahd showing certain details of construction.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the improved container includes a body 10 here shown as being generally cylindrical. However, as the description proceeds itwill become apparent that the body may be of anyv desired configuration. Adjacent its'upper end the side walls of the body are carried inwardly at an angle providing a shoulder 11 and a somewhat reduced neck portion 12, the upper end of which is covered by any suitable closure or lid'13 here shown as pivotally mounted at 14. To accommodate the pivot 14 the body is provided with an enlargement or elf-set portion 15 which also serves to Support the cover 13 in a horizontal position when said cover is'in open position.

Bails 16 are secured to the body 10 as by rivets or other suitable means and :these bails .are arranged to have their loop portions disposed above the shoulder 11; Since the walls of the body are turned or inclined inwardly to provide the reduced neck portion 12 it will be seen that the loop portions of thebailsare clear and that hooks or other meansmay be readily passed through them when the container is to be lifted.

Normally, particularly when the container is loaded, its bottom or lower end is closed by a 'pair of similar doors 17 and 18 hingedly mounted on a bar 19. This bar is arranged centrally of the container and-extends from side to side'thereof at a point located inwardly of the lower edge of the body 10. For reasons which will later appear this bar 19 is preferably located in accordance with the depth of the container and is generally at a point spaced from the lower edge of the container a distance equal to approximately one-.

ninth of the height of the container. A ledge or stop 20 is provided within the container body adjacent the lower or'discharge end thereof and extending entirely about the inner wall of the body. This ledge is secured in any suitablemanner as by riveting, welding or the like, and serves to strengthen thebody and 'includes an inwardly deflected 'lip' portion 21 adapted when the doors. 17 and: 18 areclosed to be engaged by the edge portions of said doors whereby to form a seal and preventthe escape of the contents of the container. The ledgereally comprises a pair of similar sections one located at each side of the bar or pin 19 and the sections incline in opposite directions whereby the central portion of each section disposed lowermost. However, in each instance: the lowest portion of the ledge is arranged so that it is several inches more or lessabove the loweror discharged edge of the body 10.. 1 I I When the doors 1'? and 18- are in closedposition their edge portions engage the free edges of the lip portions 21 of the ledge 20 and the doors are therefore in an inclined'position (as shown by full lines in Fig. 2). From the foregoing, it is to be particularly noted that when the doors are in closed position they are inclined in opposite directions with respect to one another and that their freeedges are lowermost and are adjacent the walls of thebody of the container. Further, it is to be noted that these free edges of the doors At diametrically opposite points, which points are at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pin or bar 19, portions of the side walls of the body are pressed inwardly to provide vertically extending channels 22 the lower ends of the inner walls of which are slotted as at 2,3.- These slots receive arms 24 secured to the doors 1'] and lBas shown. Within the channels are pulleys 25 over which pass ropes or cables 26 secu fid at their lower ends to the outer ends of the arms 24. The outerends of the arms 24-are shapedto provide foot portions 24 which may engage the supporting surface whereby to force 'the' doors tight against the edge portion or the stop or ledge 20 to prevent loss of material when the container is in a car or on the'ground or the like as when it is being loaded.

' These cables control movement of the doors 1''! and 18 and are adapted to be released to. permit said doors to open and are adapted to be drawn to move said doors into their-closed positions againstthe ledge 20. Obviously,1on the ropes or cables being released the weight of the contents will cause the doors to open and the doors will move away from the-side walls of the body and the arms 24 will swing downwardly through the slots 23 the cables flexing aboutthe pulleys 25 whereby the doors may assume an open position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Of course, when the ropes or cables are drawn upwardly the parts will be returned to their normal'positlons with the doors closed.

' The channels 22 may be .-closed by plates: 2'? secured to the body in any suitable manner and adjacent its lower end each of these .plates may be cut away as at 28 whereby access may readily be had to the ropes or cables 26 in order, that they may be readily inspected and replacedif found to be worn. Since the channels are formed. at the inner side of the body and since the balls 16 are substantially flat there will be no projections on the outer surfaces of the body and a series of containers may be arranged in close side by side relationship. Since the edges, of the doors do not come into engagementwiththe walls of the body the. said doors will not be wedged closed should the body be dented. I A serious inward bending of theilower or dischargededge of the body will not interfere with the operation of the doors since as the doors move to open position their edges move away from the-innerv surface of the body. 7 I l The container may be loaded in any suitable manner as by workmen using shovels and the hooks of a crane or other hoist are then passed through the bails 1.6 and the container swung onto a car; When the'lcontainer reaches its destination it is again picked up by 'passing:.hooks through the bails and, of courseg. the ropes or cables 26' are held taut. There is'not a great deal of stress on these cables. With the container 'elevated the cables may be released and the doors will swing into their'open-position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig.2.

While the doors are closed there will be 'considerable materialabout the edges of' the doors or at a point below the upper or hinged portions of the doors. That is, measured vertically in the body there is more material above the "free I edges of the doors thanthere is above the hinged edges thereof. As the doors move open the material inwardly of the edges of the doors will attempt to move outwardly by sliding down the inclined faces of the doors. The material above the edges of the doors will be prevented from moving outwardly by that portion of the container extending below the doors. There will be an excess of pressure at the outer edges of the doors and the material at this point is forced to move directly downwardly.

The material more centrally of the body will attempt to, slide laterally but will be prevented from doing so by the downward rush of the material accumulated above the free edges of the doors. Therefore, there will be no lateral spreading of the material with a consequent waste and all of the material is forcedto move directly downwardly whereby it may all be discharged into a hopper or the like. It will be particularly noted that the edges of the doors are slightly above the discharge end of the body and therefore during initial opening movement of the doors lateral movement of the material will be prevented by this extension or lower portion of the body. This action is assisted by the downward rush of material accumulated above the free edge portions of the doors which portions are below the hinged portions thereof whereby a greater pressure is built up adjacent the edges.

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally closing one end of said body, a bar extending across said body, said bar located inwardly of said end of the body, said doors having their adjacent edges hingedly connected with said bar, a ledge about the inner surface of said body adjacent but inwardly of said end thereof, said ledge including oppositely inclined portions at the respective sides of and extending below said ba nd id led e ra ged t be engaged y the edge portions of said doors when said doors are in closed position whereby the doors when closed occupy inclined positions with their outer edges lowermost but spaced inwardly of the l w r edge of the body.

2. In a container, a hollow body. a pair of .dOOrs normally closing one end of the body, a bar .extending across said body, said doors having their adjacent edges hingedly connected with said bar whereby the doors are swingable between closed and opened positions, said body having portions of its side walls pressed inwardly to provide vertically extending channels within the contour of said walls, a pulley associated with each .Of said channels, flexible cables operating in said channels and over said pulleys and connected with said doors to control their movements, plates closing the outer sides of said channels, and said plates notched at their lower ends to expose portions of said channel whereby to permit access to be had to said cables.

3. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally closing'one end of said body, a bar extending across said body and located inwardly of said end thereof, means hingedly connecting the adjacent edges of the doors with said bar, a ledge about the inner surface of said body adjacent but inwardly of said end thereof, said ledge including oppositely inclined portions at the respectiveisidesof and extending below said bar, said ledge arranged to be engaged by the edge portions of said doors when said doors are in closed position whereby the doors occupy inclined positions with their outer edges lowermost but spaced inwardly of the lower edge of the body, and means at the outer sides of said body and connected with said doors and operable to draw their edge portions against said ledge.

4. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally within and closing one end of said body, a bar extending across said body, said bar located inwardly of said end of the body, said doors having their adjacent edges hinged to said bar, a ledge about the inner surface of said body adjacent but inwardly of said end thereof, said ledge including oppositely inclined portions at the respective sides of and extending below said bar and arranged to be engaged by the edge portions of said doors when said doors are in closed. position, said body having portions of its side walls pressed inwardly to provide vertically extending channels within the contour of said walls, said walls having notches extending through the lower edges of said inwardly pressed portions, extensions on the free edges of said doors and aligning with said notches, and flexible cables operating in said channels and connected with said extensions beyond the free edges of the doors to control their movements.

5. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally closing one end of said body, a bar extending across said body and located inwardly of said end thereof, means hingedly mounting the adjacent edges of the doors on said bar, a ledge about the inner surface of said body adjacent but inwardly of said end thereof, said ledge arranged to be engaged by the edge portions of said doors to form a seal when the doors are closed, and said doors having their edges spaced from the walls of the container below said ledge when the doors are closed to prevent binding of the doors in such positions.

6. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally closing one end of said body, a bar extending across said body and located inwardly of said end thereof, means hingedly connecting the adjacent edges of the doors with said bar, a ledge about the inner surface of said body adjacent but inwardly of said end thereof and including oppositely inclined portions at the r..- spective sides of and extending below said bar, said ledge arranged to be engaged by the edge portions of said doors when said doors are in closed positions whereby when the doors are closed they occupy inclined positions with their outer ed es lowermost but spaced inwardly of the lower edge of the body, and said doors having their edges below said ledge spaced from the walls of the container when the doors are closed to prevent binding of the doors in such positions.

7. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally closing one end of the body, a bar extending centrally across said body from side to side thereof, said doors having their adjacent edges hingedly mounted on said bar whereby the doors are swingably between closed and opened positions, said body having portions of its side walls pressed inwardly to provide vertically extending channels within the contour of said walls, said walls having notches extending through the lower edges of said inwardly pressed portions, means on said doors and extending through said notches when the doors are in closed positions, and means extending through said channel and connected with said means on the free edges of said doors for controlling their movements.

8. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally closing one end of the body, a bar extending across said body, said doors having their adjacent edges hingedly connected with said bar whereby the doors are swingable between closed and opened positions, a ledge within said body and against which said doors abut when in closed position, and means on said doors for engaging a supporting surface and holding said doors against said ledge when the container is resting on such surface.

9. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally closing one end of said body, a bar extending across said body, said bar located inwardly of said end of the body, said doors having their adjacent edges hingedly connected with said bar, a ledge about the inner surface of said body adjacent but inwardly of said end thereof, said ledge arranged to be engaged by the edge portions of said doors when said doors are in closed position, and means on said doors for engaging a supporting surface and holding said doors against said ledge when the container is resting on such surface.

10. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally closing one end of said body, a bar extending across said body, said bar located inwardly of said end of the body, said doors having their adjacent edges hingedly connected with said bar, a ledge about the inner surface of said body adjacent but inwardly of said end thereof, said ledge including oppositely inclined portions at the respective sides of and extending below said bar, said ledge arranged to be engaged by the edge portions of said doors when said doors are in closed position whereby the doors when closed occupy inclined positions with their free edges lowermost but spaced inwardly of the lower edge of the body, and means on said doors for engaging a supporting surface and holding said doors against said ledge when the container is resting on such supporting surface.

11. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally closing one end of the body, means hingedly mounting said doors for swinging movement between closed and opened positions, a ledge within said body and against which the doors abut when in closed position, and means on said doors for engaging a supporting surface and holding the doors against the ledge when the container is resting on such surface.

12. In a container, a hollow body, a pair of doors normally within and closing one end of said body, a bar extending across said body, said bar located inwardly of said end of the body, said doors having their adjacent edges hinged to said bar, a ledge about the inner surface of said body adjacent but inwardly of said end thereof, said ledge arranged to be engaged by the edge portions of said doors when said doors are in closed position, said body having portions of its side walls pressed inwardly to provide vertically extending channels within the contour of said walls, said walls having notches extending through the lower edges of said inwardly pressed portions, extensions on the free edges of said doors and aligning with said notches, and means operating in said channels and connected with said extensions beyond the free edges of the doors to control their movements.

JOHN M. BOSCARDIN. 

